From pharmacist to Taboo Breaker
Professional speaker
Filip is known for his compelling storytelling style that effortlessly combines humor and vulnerability. His keynotes are not only informative but also surprisingly lighthearted. With Filip on stage, the audience is held up a mirror; often with a laugh, sometimes with a bit of discomfort, and always with a call to action.
He understands that taboos are not simple subjects, but through humor and bizarre examples, he knows how to make the uncomfortable easily accessible. Filip shows that growth and potential lie within uncomfortable conversations.
Born and raised in Belgium, Filip now lives in Utrecht, from where he is a sought-after speaker in both Belgium and the Netherlands. His mission? To make taboos discussable with a healthy dose of humor and a sharp perspective. After all: taboos stay alive if you keep them silent.
- Education: Pharmacist, business management, speaker, comedian.
- Experience: >20 years in leadership (corporate)
- Jobs: Management (Marketing)
- Professional Speaker since 2023
About Filip de Groeve
Filip began his career as a pharmacist but soon discovered his true calling: breaking taboos and telling stories that stick.
For more than 20 years, he listened to:
- Women sharing their pregnancy journeys—often full of unspoken fears.
- Mothers discussing their insecurities—afraid they aren't doing enough.
- Patients struggling with intimate health issues—paralyzed by stigma.
Time and again, he saw the same problem: the taboo is often larger than the problem itself. In lieu of finding support, people withdraw into silence.
Keynote
Topics
Inclusion
Taboos in the workplace: the silent causes of absenteeism
What we don’t dare to discuss can become our greatest obstacle. Taboos such as debt, grief, mental health, and chronic conditions lead to isolation and absenteeism in the workplace. Filip talks about “silent absenteeism”—absence that arises from staying quiet. His keynotes are a call to stop avoiding taboos and start breaking them to create inclusion.
CORPORATE CULTURE
Living with invisible disabilities
Filip gives a voice to people with invisible disabilities. Their stories and resilience are a source of inspiration. People with chronic pain, stomas, or continence issues rely on empathy every day. He shows how empathy and awareness can break stigmas and create connection.
PRODUCTIVITY
Menstruation and menopause: making invisible challenges visible
The 3Ms (menstruation, motherhood, and menopause) are life stages that don’t stop when you scan your staff badge in the morning. Filip discusses how these often-ignored topics still limit the potential of organizations. Filip’s “taBOOH” inspires not only women but also colleagues and managers to see what wants to remain invisible.
LEADERSHIP
Taboo as an asset
Growth doesn’t come from easy conversations, but from uncomfortable ones. When leaders and organizations have the courage to tackle awkward subjects, they open the door to innovation, inclusion, and growth. Filip De Groeve shows how inspiring companies and leaders embrace taboos and how this leads to a culture where people flourish and dare to excel.
Breaking taboos is creating
inclusion.
My Keynotes
Filip is known for his compelling storytelling style that effortlessly combines humor and vulnerability. His keynotes are not only informative but also surprisingly lighthearted. With Filip on stage, the audience is held up a mirror – often with a laugh, sometimes with a bit of discomfort, and always with a call to action.
“taBOOH” and leadership
- 45 minutes
- In-company
- Benelux rate and rate for institutions
Leaders and organizations that have the guts to engage in the taboo conversation create an environment where people flourish, loyalty grows, and teams become stronger. That is where the power of taBOOH lies.
“taBOOH” in the workplace
- 45 minutes
- In-company
- Benelux rate and rate for institutions
A high-energy keynote that takes you on a journey through common taboos. Funny, emotional, and a little uncomfortable. A fantastic starting point to make your organization more inclusive!
“taBOOH” and marketing
- 45 minutes
- In-company
- Benelux rate and rate for institutions
Breaking taboos is creating inclusion. I help you build a campaign that not only grabs attention but also makes a lasting impact.
Filip is a well-known speaker at
Witty, well-founded, and engaging, with just the right combination of humor, edge, and informative depth. A story that inspires and provokes thought.
Fleur van Boeckel
Marketing Manager National MS Fund
A very enlightening, candid, exceptionally funny, and oh-so-necessary presentation about taboos and why it is so vital to break them. It was an insightful celebration!
Sanne Blom
Chair of the Ostomy Association
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